The Importance of Reading Fiction and Other Thoughts at the Start of School

My husband and I recently returned from the University of Illinois. We drove up to hear our youngest daughter’s dissertation defense. She now has a doctorate in comparative literature. Her dissertation was about Medea and Antigone in Latin America and North America, neoliberalism, reproductive rights and migration. It doesn’t much matter if you know a lot or a little about these ancient Greek tragedies. What struck me is how my daughter connected with these women and how much they are still alive in social and political life and literature in North and South America.

I bring up these ancient, mythical women and their lasting influence to say that literature is important. Reading fiction is important. I think we do a disservice to young people – and probably society in general – when we place greater value on STEM over the arts (including literature) in schools. Even when that message is subtle, I feel it creeping in. When students and parents get the idea that the only useful education is in science, technology, engineering and math, then we’re redefining education to training rather than educating.

Businesses are being invited to define curriculum based on what they need. College and career ready. That isn’t necessarily a negative thing – we should absolutely think of the job market and jobs of the future – but we tend to throw the baby out with the bathwater in this country. If one salad is good, let’s make it a salad bar. If a meal is satisfying, let’s make it all you can eat! And more! If one vitamin supplement might be helpful, let’s turn it into an entire store with supplements galore! Let’s call kids “scholars” and college students “customers,” as if saying it can make it so. Let’s marginalize fiction, art, music and drama just like we did recess a few years ago to make time for more “serious” pursuits. Now we know how important recess is for physical AND mental health, but it can be difficult to claw back. Will we have the same problem with valuing STEM over fiction?

Sometimes if something is repeated enough, it can become a kind of truth. STEM education is important, but not at the expense of giving children a well-rounded education. Reading entire works (not just excerpts to answer multiple choice questions on tests) allows students, even very young children, to identify emotions, to empathize with others and to learn about people around the world. Years ago, I taught a Junior Great Books class before school at my kids’ elementary school. We read legends and stories from other cultures. Unfettered by worrying about “right” answers, the kids had some amazing discussions. Their little brains were firing, making connections and creating ideas. Dare I say that they learned to listen and be kind to one another. There is research that shows that reading fiction is good for your brain, no matter what your age.

Beyond the fact that reading fiction is good for cognitive development, it can also be good for students’ identity and sense of self because I’m not just talking about reading the works of white, male writers. Writers or characters who are of different races, sexes, nationalities, religions, sexual orientations or identities tell children and young people that they matter. That their experience is worth reading, researching and discussing. That is the reason that we need to fight banning books in schools. When I taught English in high school, I saw it as a safe place for students to discuss ideas and differences in a respectful way.

Those children and young people who go on to careers in STEM or in anything else will benefit from reading and discussing what they read. They’ll be better critical thinkers, questioners and decision makers. They’ll feel more confident. Literature and the arts shouldn’t be a privilege of the privileged. We shouldn’t make assumptions about what a child will become. They can all benefit from a well-rounded education.

And, even with STEM jobs, there are no guarantees. My son (who majored in Spanish) works in the tech industry. He has a good job, but he also tells me that if he wanted to change jobs, it would be difficult. Companies aren’t hiring. I’m sure that if you have read the news in the past couple of years, you know that tech companies have been laying off employees and the trend is expected to continue. The company my son works for has had two significant layoffs this year.

We cannot guarantee future employment or even what the jobs will be. What we can know is that we have a shared humanity. We can find enjoyment, learn new things and relieve stress through reading fiction (hello, book groups!) We can even improve our brains!

Medea and Antigone, those two ancient, tragic Greek women, still live on – you can even find a version of Medea’s final monologue on YouTube inspired by Tamika Mallory’s speech on George Floyd’s murder. It’s still as relevant and moving today as it was when Euripides wrote it in 431 BCE.